The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-29
ABOUT TO UNITE INTERESTS
Indications that the Leading Natural
Gas Companies Intend to Combine.
The Plans Are Expected to Assume Definite
Shape To-Day-The Broad Ripple Compa-
ny Contracts for Ten Miles Of Pipe.

men whose positions in connection with the
Stand ard Oil Trust and the Guffey syndicate
warrant the superstition that early settle
ment of the natural-gas problem is to be
reached. What definite form il is to take is left
somewhat to conjecture, bur it is known that
for the past few days important conferences
have been held by representatives of the In
dianapolis company and other great interests
involved. 1t has been inferred that the COM
pany named, the Standard people and the Cuff
fey syndicate had formed combination which
could control all the valuable gas territory ad-
iacent to Indianapolis. This to some extent. it
is asserted by the parties interested is true, but
they say that the details of agreement, pool.
combination consolidation are not ready for
the public. They deny that the arrangement
means a ombination such, but admit that
the several interests closely allied. 1t is very
probable that while there will be
neither a sale nor consolidation one of
the other companies will receive the output Of
the existing wells and those to be drilled by the
three companies and pipe it TO the vicinity of
Indianapolis by the LIST of January. Before
that date" said gentleman of the home COM
pany I'VE will be on top in this matter" The
agreement or whatever it is, has reached such
shape that the whole plan has been either per-
fected or will be before the sun goes down this
evening.
While Daniel O'Day, of Buffalo, who is the
head OF the Standards natural-gas department.
in an interview with Journal reporter, last
night, did not go that far in his statements.
what he said is corroboratiye of the specula-
tons that have been INDUCED by few since
Tuesday last. when we came into the In
diana gas territory" he continued 1--WE had a
very thorough knowledge of what fields we
wanted. We secured these on the belief that
we would have trouble in piping into In
danapolis. Long before our men were examn-
ing these fields as we'll as all other gas bearing
lands in the State knew what we were
about After being satisfied that the best sup
ply for this city was the Noblesville region
we confined our operations there. We invested
large sums of money with the hope of reaching
the market here. What valuable territory
did not secure the Guffey syndicate did. Its
agents, like ours, had gone over the State and
knew their business thoroughly"
did you count on much opposition to your
coming into the city"
1--WE were prepared for some but rested in
the belief that the good business of the
people would aid Us in overcomngit All Of our
investments were made on business princip les
and while we did not and do not propose to carry
ont our plans a charitable basin. we had and
do not have any desire to exact from the people
more than what would give US just return on
the money expend. 1t recog-
nized by that Indianapolis had
tho right to get her gas at the
cheapest possible That is good business
sense; but we could not pipe it to the city and
furnish it to consumers At the prices your Coun-
ell established We decided TO wait and in the
meantime made further investments trusting
that we could bring our product to this city.
Thmra r1aH IN ha chi far rlu d..
cison and withdrew from the field, but
we hold our leases and wells for afford
our natnraI-ras pronerties. We do not
intend to antagonize the people. They have the
right TO their opinions. plans and proposed in
vestments, but had iu been possible would
have met their wishes and brought gas to the
city under the ordinance. think Mr. Gufey
tell you the same as far as his syndicate is
concerned
Mr.. Gufey was present during the interview
and acquesced in all that Mr. ODay said. He
introduced a feature into the conversation bear
ing the results to increased values of real
estate TO be obtained from natural gas. What
ever benefits" he continued. ARE to be derived
in that way must come from full and perma-
or FIVE wells of limited flow and an updeveIoped
territory of great uncertainty cannot hope to
guarantee continuous supply At the best it
could reach only q very small part of your peo-
pie. Taking all the wells together of these
small companies, they by suff-
eient to furnish what would be required to give
the city any appreciabe benefit One we'll with
q flow of 40 600 900 feet is better and more GER
tain than twenty wells with output of Co.,
DOC, 900 feet"
Mr. ODay took up the thread of talk and
ssd: Your people standing in their own
light What has been going on here is ridicu-
ious, and if the people do not get gas it will not
be our fault. We control all the available gas
territory upon which Indianapolis must rely.
ana il the city puts its trust In undeveoped
fields il will have no gas
What has been your experience in other
citiesl
I'm the beginning at Toledo we were met by
the difficulties in regard prices We
offered that city the same rates we did here
There WAS good deal of opposition, but we
began laying pipes from our wells, and when we
were q snort distance from the city some one
proposed in the Council cut our rates in two
It was done. and We stopped with the pipe line
The line would be Incomplete to-day if the bust
ness men Of Toledo had not taken the matter
in charge and prevailed upon the Council to
advance tho rates. VS. do not intend to repeat
that in this case 1t Is not necessary"
There are places very near indianapolis"
said Mr. Guffey, "that want the gas AID will
take 1t in abundance. Some of these places are
adjoining the city"
lit has been said" suggested the reporter,
"that the Standard people are laying pipe from
Noblesville in the direction of Indianapolis"
That is not So said Mr. o'Day
''to say what is going to be done"
You can tell tho people" continued Mr.
ODay, that pipe-laying to the vicinity OF In
dianapolis will begin very soon.D
at has also been said" again suggested the
reporter. that the Indianapolis company is lay
ing pipe from its Harris farm aud Fishers Sta
ton wellsl"
''That. also. is not true; but pipe will soon be
laid from thcre," said Mr. ODay
The interview closed with the assurance from
Mr.. Guffey that the people of Indianapolis would
be able to get gas by the LIST of January il they
wanted il, but not at the ordinance prices.
The Standard and Guffey representatives &C.
eempanied by the directors of the Indian apolis
company, and others, will be taken over the
Belt railroad. this morning by officials of the
Union Railway system.
Contracted for Ten Miles OF Pipe.
The Broad Ripple company reports that it has
net only strengthened its financial resources.
out that = contract for ten miles of eight-inch
ope has been closed with j. B. McElwaine, of
Bradford, Pa Mr. Wheeler, who represents
him. when asked Yesterday IN regard to the con-